This is the best news ever. Charest needs to capitalize on this and proceed with the momentum.

Harper desperately needs to help him out and if the fiscal imabalance proposals work out with some environmental initiatves in the fall aimed at Quebec, Charest could really get some steam in his engine....

"By forcing an election, before the Conservative Party has grown and established itself in Quebec, the hold over Quebec of the Bloc Quebecois can only grow into the vacuum. The result will be to stack the deck in favour of separatism."

Matthew,It has nothing to do with a vendetta against Harper. The Bloc and the PQ are both socially progressive. Harper and his Conservatives are not. As I don't believe Quebec separation is likely anytime in the foreseeable future, I will side with the left-leaning political entities in that province.

I think its great news that Charest has a fighting chance to retain power - but it's still just one poll and there is no election yet. I will always support federalists over seperatists - no matter what the ideology is. Saying other wise ...ahem Omar... is short-sighted little man thinking.

Well, Mr.Beazley I would suggest to you that I am not as enamoured with this confederation as you obviously are. As far as your ageism quip, I am far more likely to be the victim of that said bigotry than Mr.Smith would be. Besides, the crack about his age was for his condescending "little man thinking" crack. You did read the comments in the thread, did you not?

Not for anything, but you aren't a Quebecker, and if you are, you probably don't presently live here. Don't start proclaiming your support for the PQ and BQ when you don't live through the facts on the ground.

Socially progressive, eh? I think banning English on signs isn't that socially progressive. Putting down English (an official Canadian language) and alienating the anglophone-Quebec community as (which has been in Quebec for like 400 years) doesn't rock me as being socially progressive.

That's just one example of non-social-progressive PQ/BQ policies. Yes, I agree, a lot of their policies are socially progressive. But a lot of PLQ policies are socially progressive as well, such as pay equity legislation, as one example.

Needless to say, as a Quebecker, I don't really care who you support here in Quebec. I tend to care about the beliefs of Quebeckers who live in Quebec.

Don't be discouraged. The CROP poll still appears to show a decline in sovereignty support.

We need to POUNCE on these figures and continue to push them our way. We need a SEA of optimism as federalist forces go forward. These polls give federalists MOMENTUM. So let's not jump the gun and say things like "that was fun while it lasted" cause it's just beginning!!

1) traditionally, poll support for PLQ in Quebec under-represents there election day support. turnout issues make this so.

2) either poll puts the PQ in crisis mode. 30% is about the bottom of their support. Boisclair started with 50% support. If they ain't in a panic, its because they've taken that one pill that makes them small and are looking to ask Alice a few questions.

Why has no Liberal come out and made the comment about the obvious elephant in the room?

The reason Charest is gaining in the polls has nothing to do with his policies or "charisma".....it is because Quebecers who supported the seperatists because they couldn't stomach the Liberals....are now supporting Harper. One way to show support for Harper, is to be more satisfied with the one party in Quebec that can work with him....the Provincial Liberals.

How many of you honestly think the seperatists would be losing to Charest.....if Paul Martin and his party won the last election. If you think it would make no difference....then you are simply not thinking.

And Omar.....if you could come up with a comment half as well argued as our young friend Andrew Smith, or with half the honesty....then you would be four times smarter than you think you are.